Title
Hong Kong : a cultural and literary history
Document Type
Book
Publication Date
2007
Publisher
Hong Kong University Press
Abstract
Hong Kong is the epitome of the modern city and a crossroads between Eastern and Western cultures. Today the city is most famously characterized by its breathtaking skyscraper skyline, dominating its so-called "fragrant" harbour. The more-than-one hundred-year-old Star Ferry, which continues to ply the seven-minute route between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, enhances the magic of the night-time experience of this unique maritime city, composed of China's southernmost peninsula and an archipelago of over two hundred islands.
Hong Kong has always been something of an anomaly, and an outpost of empire, whether British or Chinese. Once described as a "barren island", the former fishing community has been transformed by its own economic miracle into one of Asia's World Cities, taking in its stride the return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Beneath the surface of Hong Kong's clichéd self-image as Pearl of the Orient and Shopping Paradise, Michael Ingham reveals a city rich in history, myth and cultural diversity.
CITY OF OCCUPATION & IMMIGRATION The Buddhists; the Sung emperor and the Mongols; the northern Chinese; the British; refugees; other expatriates; the Triads; sailors of all sorts; the Japanese army; the Filipino "maids"; the rugby fans.
CITY OF GLASS, BAMBOO & FUNG SHU Temples and markets; walled village and city; skyscrapers and hotels; buildings and values – ancient and modern.
CITY OF CULTURAL HYBRIDITY Sun Yat-sen and Sir Catchick Paul Chater; Chinese Opera and cinema; classical music and Canto-pop; Bruce Lee and Sir Norman Foster; Suzie Wong and Wong Kar-wai; Timothy Mo and Jackie Chan.
ISBN
9789622098350
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Ingham, M. (2007) Hong Kong: a cultural and literary history. Hong Kong: HKU Press.
